2008 S. A. Robinson

A portrait of Samuel Amuri Robinson (1968-71 BAgrSc (Hons))), the Bledsloe Medallist, 2008. Farming is the central theme in Sam’s life and he has been an active farmer all his working life. From his sheep and beef property ‘Te Maire’ he was named Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year in 1986 and nine years later received the AC Cameron Award for Leadership and Excellence in Farming. In 2007, for his involvement in production forestry on ‘Te Maire’, the planting of shelter belts and other sustainable land use activities, he was named Hawke’s Bay Farm Forester of the Year. Sam’s commitment on his own property is to farming in a sustainable manner, recognising the best long term land use for differing classes of country. It is in relation to the meat industry that Sam’s name is perhaps best known and particularly in connection with Hawke’s Bay – based Richmond Ltd. He was a Director of Richmond Ltd from 1991 to 2004 and was chairman for seven years.